{"id":357757,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/hiring-process\/illegal-interview-questions-and-female-applicants.html"},"modified":"2024-05-21T10:10:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T15:10:34","slug":"illegal-interview-questions-and-female-applicants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/hiring-process\/illegal-interview-questions-and-female-applicants.html","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Interview Questions and Female Applicants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Illegal Interview Questions and Female Applicants<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Interviewing for a new job can be a nerve-wracking experience. It can be worse for women who face discriminatory and unlawful questioning. While employers have a legitimate interest in assessing a candidate’s qualifications and fit for a role, certain inquiries cross legal boundaries<\/a>. Federal and state laws prohibit employers from asking questions that discriminate based on gender or other protected characteristics.<\/p>\r\n

Illegal questions may be about a female applicant’s family status, marital status, and child-rearing plans. Employers often ask these questions due to the harmful and antiquated assumption that female employees are not as committed to their work or will be absent more and less productive than male workers.<\/p>\r\n

When these questions are part of hiring decisions, employers may have violated laws aimed at preventing employment discrimination<\/a>. If this is the case, employees can bring lawsuits<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n

This article discusses anti-discrimination laws relating to female applicants, illegal interview questions to avoid, and tips for female applicants hoping for a job offer.<\/p>\r\n

Anti-Discrimination Laws Relating to Female Applicants<\/h2>\r\n

Federal and state laws protect job applicants from many forms of discrimination, including bias based on gender and sex.<\/p>\r\n

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/h3>\r\n

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a wide-ranging federal law that prohibits employment discrimination against those who belong to legally protected classes. These categories include:<\/p>\r\n